Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-04
COMPOSING CHRIST.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY rev. GEO.
P. HAYS, D. D., IL. D.

Lesson VI of the Internal onal Series
1sSi-Text W the Lesson, Matt. x, Sc
4"-Golden Text, Matt. y, 80.
The last lesson was the call of the apostles
to apostleship In this lesson we have n
statement of the results which should follow
from the faithful discharge of their duties,
and especially Of the principles upon which
Jesus Christ, as final judge, would estimate
| the treatment Of them as his ambassadors on
| the part of the world
ConteSsion.--lt will be seen by the mar
| ginal reading in the revised version that the
expression in the Greek is confess in me and
] will confess in him." This intimates that
! the Christian here is so to make his confess
! sion to Christ that it shall not be an external
cloak put on as something separate from
himself, but as part of his internal and spir-
| itual life.
| Continuing habit.-This form of phrase
| olOgy shows that the confession, both on his
part and on ours, is not a temporary rela-
tlonShlp but is permanent, abiding and
| growing habit of our spiritual life
This principle here applied by Christ to
the final judgment is simply the ordinary
rule of good society. We may feel wound =!
| by temporary detection of one Of our
| friends; but we estimate them not on the
basis of an occasional fault but on their
permanent behavior and characteristics.
Nothing can be more irrational for Aloso
who thus act in their intercourse with their
fellow man than to expect Christ to deal
otherwise with them.
Peace or wary erses 81, 81 and Sc are in
| strange contrast with our notions Of the
coming OF Tie" prince of peace. But Christ
came to send peace to his friends and among
his friends, and not TO make peace with Lis
enemies. Very often the argument is urged
against an aggressive warfare in behalf of
morality in the community that it will stir
up strife as if peace should be bought at the
price Of unbridled evil. Why should GOOD
people yield their principles for the sake of
pence amy more than bad peOnlc}
EHtrCdne casos.-In this country it is not
often that families are 50 divided that their
controversies reach the climax described in
verse 81; and yet filial duty and parental
authority have not untrequcntly been used to
| induce Christians to do wrong. 1t is an cx-
ueme case, but not an impossible one, that
young Christians should he pushed to choose
between ther own households and their duty
to God
Personal fcelng.-We ara apt TO assume
that al suffering lies on the side of doing
right, and that the surrender of conscience is
a sure road to relief from trouble. Verse 81
raises this question of personal preference and
affection. There is wonderful depth of
meaning in that phrase worthy of me" 1t
is Twice used in this one verse and covers the
whole question Of initiating Christ For the
love of lost race he gave up the glolies OF
heaven for the path Of duty midst suffering
on earth.
The cross -Verse IS seems perfectly clear
to us as the word the cross comes with all
the associations that have gathered round it
for the past eighteen centuries. Cruciixion
however, was not common form of punish
mcnt among the Jews When therefore, this
sentence was uttered before the crucifiXion.
its meaning must have been very obscure to
these disciples. This is an admirable illustra-
ton of what is meant in John xii, 1G The
words Ibis cross indicate that each one has
his own peculiar burden to bear.
Profit and loss-Ncrse 80 is a question of
the supreme motive, and puts life As the rep
resentative of ease III contrast with duty and
the approval of conscience. If everything
is to be sacrificed for ease the probability is
ease will not be attained. Egotism and
seltishneSS generally defeat themselves
Business principles in religion. Money
paid to the collector of a bank is counted as
if paid to the bank In verse 10 this prin-
clplc, universal among men, is adopted by
the Saviour When ministers preach the
Gospel, and Sabbath school teachers teach
Gods truth, and good people invite men to
the Saviour they do not speak in their own
name. Christ will take every response to his
invitation delivered through the lips of lii,
people as if that response had been made to a
MESSAGE delivered by himself Verse II is
simply this principle set forth as regards
thousands who hear the message, as well as
with reference to the messenger.
Small matters.-Vcrsc - has this principle
brought down to daily concerns. Many little
children in the mission schools out of their
poverty win give their teachers a token of
affection, which to the teacher may have
small value in itself, but will be very preciou,
to that teacher for the appreciation it ndi-
Gates. In the country where this verse was
spoken water is not very plentiful, and cold
water is IA still scA"er article. The gift.
therefore of "cod water" would indicate Il
thoughtful intention and some effort on the
part of the giYcr. When now this thought
and effort are the result of an intention to
recognize Christ in the person Of the disciple,
why should Christ fail to reward those who
expressly, for his sake, have done This little
act Of kindueS:
This las calls for five thiucs on the part OF
Gods people: confession of their love, con
fict with evil, comparison Of rJialt, between
right and wrong, sacrifice OF pre- eut ease t.
duty, and acceptance of the government Of
the Saviour, 1t calls for four things from
Christ towards his people: acknowledgment
/ of those who are faithful to the command OF
duty, testing them by trial, rcwarding them
for faithfuness, and recognition of them il
the day of judgment. These are correlative
the one to the other. Our confession viii be
| acknowledged by Christ. In the conflict with
evil, we are simply obeying his command
in our comparison of results between present
comfort and everlasting life, we arc tested il
his sight; when we sacrifice self and ease fol
for his sake, he comes with his reward; wher
! we accept his control, he recognizes our ser
! vice.